David Constantine Brooks November 30, 1981, better known by his stage name Mavado, is a Jamaican dancehall artist. He was raised in an area known as "Cuba", a micro ghetto within the heart of Kingston, Jamaica's Cassava Piece community. The community was considered dangerous and Mavado was exposed to many different things in his youth. Mavado had two major influences in his life that made him want to pursue a career in music. His grandmother who raised him, brought him to church with her each Sunday, and this helped to ignite his love for music. What kept the flame burning was his second influence in his music career; his idol, and current labelmate Bounty Killer.

[edit] Musical career

Bounty Killer and legendary Dancehall manager Julian Jones-Griffith began to take Mavado under their wing and showed him the ropes of the music businesshttp://upload.wikimedia.org/skins/common/images/button_extlink.png. Mavado &[ Matthew Samuels] (Assistant Manager) met the Daseca Production Crew in 2004, and recorded his debut single "Real McKoy" over the Anger Management Riddim, which in turn made him a sensation in Jamaican dancehall music. His next single brought him more mainstream success, and outside of Jamaica people began to notice him. In 2006, the single "Weh dem a Do" (recorded over the Red Bull and Guinness Riddim) got major airplay worldwide on radio stations such as New York's WQHT (Hot 97). Mavado continued to pursue his musical interest despite turbulence in his personal life including the murder of his father and numerous run-ins with the authorities. His debut album Gangsta for Life: The Symphony of David Brooks, includes "Fathers Prayer", "Cassava Piece Radio", "Sadness", "Gully Side", and much more. He signed a deal with VP Records and released his debut album in July 2007. A slimmed down and remixed version of "Real McKoy" was featured in the fourth Grand Theft Auto IV trailer entitled "Everyone's a Rat". "Real McKoy" was also used in the Grand Theft Auto IV in-game radio station, Massive B Soundsystem. Recently, Jay-Z was featured on Mavado's track "I'm On The Rock" bringing his acclaim to even greater heights and his music to a wider audience. In 2008, he appeared on Terminate on Sight by G-Unit, in a song called "Let It Go".Mavado was on Digicel Rising Star with the new sensation "KHALIL" on September 21,2008.

[edit] Charitable work

Over the course of his career, Mavado has done a number of good deeds for the less fortunate. In October of 2007 he donated two computers to the Constant Spring All Age and Charlie Smith High School. He also donated 2 million Jamaican dollars to a victim of a rape.

Alongside the Gully Creeper Buckwheat, Mavado "Gully God" has risen to great success.

[edit] Feud with Vybz Kartel

A very involved feud between Mavado and former collaborator Vybz Kartel arose towards the end of 2006, where Vybz Kartel aka Addi di teacha, was lyrically attacked by Mavado. Hostilities arose following Vybz Kartel's much publicised exit from The Alliance. The two artists, who have done a number of songs together, have now released numerous diss tracks aimed at each other. Violence had also erupted in the streets, as a shooting occurred near a popular Mavado hangout and a few days later a shooting incident occurred at a Vybz Kartel hangout. And as Bounty Killer and the rest of The Alliance continue to denounce Vybz, it is unlikely that this feud between two of dancehall's top artists will subside.

Riddims that are used in the Feud are

The 'Twelve Gauge Riddim'- Mavado-How High/Vybz Kartel-12 Gauge

The 'Power Cut Riddim'- Mavado-Songwriter/Vybz Kartel-Alliance Diss The 'After Dark Riddim'- Mavado-Warn Dem (Kartel Diss Version)/Vybz Katrel - Only ting you squeeze

The 'Drumline Riddim'- Mavado- Informer/Vybz Kartel-Mofraudo

On February 28, 2007, a press conference was held to announce the end of hostilities between the two artists. The meeting had been organized by Jamaican police, in the hopes that violence in response to the feud would end. Vybz and Mavado both encouraged fans not to partake in any more violence, and agreed that neither of them would incite violence against the other in their songs. However, many members of the local media claimed that the announcement felt very staged, and the entire fiasco was simply a way of increasing the already high popularity of the two artists. The press conference concluded with the two singing one of their collaborations, "Happiest Days". It remains to be seen whether this peace will continue, or if further collaborations between the two artists will occur. Rumors continue to circulate to the effect that they are still feuding under the truce, however no more gang violence has been reported.

Around August 2008, a new feud erupted when Mavado and one of Vybz Kartel's close friends called Jeffrey Hype were in a heated arguement which led to a fistfight. Mavado then referenced about Vybz Kartel's belief in freemasonry and criticizes his tattoos. Mavado then said on a diss track that kartel is a fag and in a recent interview he stated that Kartel is jealous of his fame and money and has no morals. Vybz Kartel in response on a diss track he said he has sexual relations with Mavado's mother and in a recent interview he stated that Mavado is the dumbest musician in history and claims that he was the one to make Mavado popular.

Riddims that are used in the later Feud are

The 'Self Defence Riddim' - Mavado - Dem A Fag/Vybz Kartel - Wah Dat Fah

The 'Silent River Riddim' - Mavado - Dem A Pree/Vybz Kartel - Nuh ting Countraction

The 'Beauty & The Beast Riddim' - Vybz Kartel - Kill Dem All & Done/Mavado - Gangsta Nuh Play

The 'Magazine Riddim' - Mavado - Cant Bad Mi Up

The 'Colliemonster Riddim - Vybz Kartel - Mi Talk With Gunshot

Vybz Kartel - Say Weh Yuh Feel Like (Say It) (Alliance Diss)

The 'self Defence Riddim' - Mavado - man

[edit] Awards

In addition to receiving Jamaican awards, On 15 October 2008, Mavado won a MOBO award for best reggae artist of the year in a contest that included his Alliance colleague Busy Signal, self proclaimed king of dancehall Beenie Man, singing sensation Etana and reggae star Taurus Riley.

[edit] Discography

• Gangsta for Life: The Symphony of David Brooks (2007)
• Mr. Brooks: A Better Tomorrow (late 2008)